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Measurements of force and acceleration on SPT systems are discussed and evaluated using solutions from both wave mechanics and a wave equation analysis program. The results show that acceleration and force can be accurately measured during SPT operations with currently available transducers, and that the force and particle velocity calculated by wave equation analysis agrees well with both measurements and wave mechanics solutions. A study of energy transmission in the SPT system is included. This study was conducted using wave mechanics and wave equation analysis. The results show that to accurately calculate energy transmission, measurements of both force and acceleration must be available. The method that has been specified in ASTM D4633-86 can produce large errors. The wave equation analysis also indicates that the standard penetration test (SPT) blow count is affected by drill rod area for low blow counts.

Microbial biodiversity in soil following different fertilisation regimes and their impact on potato brown rot suppression was studied. Evaluation was made at four naturally infested locations in Egypt. Fields with low components of organic matter (OM) and low carbon nitrogen (C:N) ratio were conducive to the disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Contrary to fields rich in antagonistic actinomycetes and microbial biodiversity. The effect of different regimes on disease control varied from location to another according to difference in edaphic factors. The effect of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) suppression was remarkable as related to increase in eubacteria biodiversity, endospores bacteria and actinomycetes in alkaline soils. Replacement of potassium with magnesium (NPMg) significantly suppressed infection and was associated with soil oligotrophism and antagonistic actinomycetes. Replacement of potassium with calcium (NPCa) significantly suppressed infection, increased fungal biodiversity and antagonistic actinomycetes. Composted chicken manure increased suppression and accompanied with a clear shift in soil biodiversity and increased antagonistic bacteria and fluorescent pseudomonas ratios. Decrease in soil biodiversity was recorded in some cases. Plant animal compost showed disease suppression which accompanied with an increase in microbial biodiversity along with high ratio of antagonistic bacteria. On the other hand, an increase in OM dissociation and reduction in C:N ratio was recorded in one area, characterised with natural high soil OM content, which enhanced soil conduciveness. In conclusion, the recommended fertilisation regime to suppress potato brown rot disease vary from soil to another according to different soil edaphic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Breaking bad news (BBN) to parents whose newborn has a major disease is an ethical dilemma. In Saudi Arabia, BBN about newborns is performed according to the parental preferences that have been reported from non-Arabic/non-Islamic countries. Saudi mothers' preferences about BBN have not yet been studied. Therefore, we aimed to elicit the preferences of Saudi mothers about BBN concerning newborns. Methods We selected a convenience sample of 402 Saudi mothers, aged 18-50 years, who had no previous experience with BBN. We selected them via a simple number-randomization scheme from the premises of a level III Saudi hospital between October of 2009 and January of 2011. We used a hypothetical situation (BBN about trisomy 21) to elicit their preferences about BBN concerning newborns via a structured verbal questionnaire composed of 12 multiple-choice questions. We expressed their preferences as percentages (95% confidence interval), and we used the Kendall's W test (W) to assess the degree of agreement in preferences. Results The Saudi mothers preferred that BBN be conducted with both parents together (64% [60-69]), albeit with weak levels of agreement (W = 0.29). They showed moderate agreement in their preferences that BBN should be conducted early (79% [75-83], W = 0.48), in detail (81% [77-85], W = 0.52), in person (88% [85-91], W = 0.58), and in a quiet setting (86% [83-90], W = 0.53). With extremely weak agreement, they preferred to have a known person present for support during BBN (56% [51-61], W = 0.01), to have close bodily contact with their babies (66% [61-70], W = 0.10), and to have no another patients present (64% [59-68], W = 0.08). They showed moderate levels of agreement in their desires to detail, in advance, their preferences about process of BBN by giving a reversible, written informed consent that could be utilized for guidance, if needed (80% [76-84], W = 0.36). Conclusions In our experience, Saudi mothers' preferences about BBN concerning newborns are varied, suggesting that a "one-size-fits-all" approach is inappropriate. A reversible, written informed consent detailing their preferences about BBN that would be kept in their medical records and utilized for guidance, if needed, may be the best solution, given this level of diversity. These findings merit further study.

The standard penetration test is evaluated for drilling and boring blow counts. Topics include incorporation of subsurface conditions, driving resistance and drill-rod length.